Why Go Paperless?

Fun fact: in a game of Rock/Paper/Scissors, players tend to use paper only 29.6% of the time, but opt for rock or scissors the other 70%.[1] Is that because, on some fundamental level, humans just don’t want to deal with paperwork? It’s possible, but one thing we do know: removing paper from employee benefits enrollment can remove a lot of headaches for members and employers. Here are five big reasons for making the switch to paperless employee benefits enrollment.

One: Fewer opportunities for typos

Filling out a paper form is an open invitation for that most human of all creations: typos. When forms are filled out on paper, they must eventually be entered into a computer, which can be complicated by problems with illegible handwriting, damage to the paper, or any other unfortunate interference between the member and their eventual enrollment. Starting on a digital copy removes the possibility of such mistakes and misunderstandings.
 

Two: It’s quicker

Up above, when we were talking about the form being entered into a computer, that almost always means involving a human being, who is tasked with inputting all these forms into the system by hand. It’s often expensive and time-consuming to take that extra step (which, again, might bring errors into the process).
 

Three: It’s easier

If members have access to paperless employee benefits enrollment, they can be empowered to make changes to their benefits elections on their own, without having to go through an HR professional. By that same token, HR professionals don’t have to spend a bunch of their workday making changes to employees’ elections.
 

Four: Vendors might require it

Some vendors, such as certain PBMs, for example, already require digital forms. What’s more, when employees fill out their forms, the system can automatically generate and send copies to the relevant vendors and partners.
 

Five: It’s nimble

Is your team growing by leaps and bounds? Rapid workforce expansion requires extra HR administration, and that kind of heavy lift is a lot lighter without stacks of paper forms to fill out. Also, are your benefits changing? Are you getting new options, new vendors, or entirely new benefits? Those changes are easily made to a digital form. But if you’ve printed out a stack of enrollment forms that are out-of-date, those are going to go straight into the recycling bin. Paperless enrollment saves time, money, and trees.
 
Need more reasons to go paperless? Connect with us to hear more.